Adjustable stilt

ABSTRACT

ADJUSTABLE STILTS ARE PROVIDED EACH COMPRISED OF A VERTICAL POLE AND A FOOT BRACKET ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED THEREON BY MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE U-BOLT ENCOMPASSING THE POLE AND HAVING ITS ENDS ENGAGING AND AFFIXED TO THE BRACKET BY MEANS OF NUTS OF THUMBSCREWS, THEREBY SAFELY SECURING THE BRACKET TO THE POLE AND PERMITTING RAPID HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE BRACKET. A SECOND U-BOLT SPACED FROM THE FIRST MAY BE UTILIZED TO SUPPORT ONE END OF THE BRACKET. ALTERNATIVELY, IN A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT UTILIZING ONLY A SINGLE U-BOLT, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE STEP IS SUPPORTED BY PROVIDING AN OPENING AT THE INNER END OF THE STEP THROUGH WHICH THE POLE IS DISPOSED.

J. H. MANNING June 6, 1972 ADJUSTABLE STIL'I' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1970 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. MANNING ATTORNEY June 6, 1972 J. H. MANNING 3,667,755

ADJUSTABLE ST ILT Filed May 18, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 & i m '4 j FIGS lNVENTOR JOSEPH H. MANNING ATTO Y June 6, 1972 J. H. MANNING 3,667,755

ADJUSTABLE STILT Filed May 18, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. MANNING ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,667,755 ADJUSTABLE STILT Joseph H. Manning, 711 Beach Road, Apt. 200, Sarasota, Fla. 33581 Filed May 18, 1970, Ser. No. 38,066 Int. Cl. A63b 25/00 US. Cl. 272-701 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE \Adjustable stilts are provided each comprised of a vertical pole and a foot bracket adjustably mounted thereon by means of at least one U-bolt encompassing the pole and having its ends engaging and afiixed to the bracket by means of nuts or thumbscrews, thereby safely securing the bracket to the pole and permitting rapid height adjustment of the bracket. A second U-bolt spaced from the first may be utilized to support one end of the bracket. Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment utilizing only a single U-bolt, the upper portion of the step is supported by providing an opening at the inner end of the step through which the pole is disposed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to stilts, and more par- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide adjustable stilts which provide strong, positive, and safe support for the foot support bracket on the pole.

It is an additional object to provide adjustable stilts having such structure that the foot support bracket may be readily adjusted in varying amounts with regard to height above ground.

It is still further an object to provide a structure of the type described which may be readily fabricated of relatively inexpensive parts.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

According to the invention, adjustable stilts are provided in which the foot support brackets are mounted to the vertical pole by means of U-bolts, thereby provinding strong support and rendering the structure readily adjustable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of adjustable stilts herein fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings, and the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, such disclosed embodiments illustrating, however, but several of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partially broken away and showing one embodiment of the stilt of the present invention.

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FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the embodiment of the step bracket shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken at the line I'IIIlI in FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line IV IV of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in cross-section, of another embodiment of the step bracket of the stilt of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view, partly in cross-section, taken at the line VI-VI of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away of another embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section taken at the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in cross-section of another embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line XX of FIG. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross-section, of still another embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, rear elevational view taken at the line XI-IXII of FIG. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a preferred further embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a still further embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the step bracket embodiment shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view of still an additional embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary side elevation-a1 view of another embodiment of the step bracket of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 19.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to FIGS. 14, an adjustable stilt assembly 10 is shown generally comprising a vertical pole 11 formed preferably of tubular aluminum and having tips 12 and 13 at its ends. The tips 12 and 13 are provided both for protecting the user from the sharp lips of the tube, and also to provide a high friction or gripping surface, as well as a protecting surface when the stilt assemblies are used indoors. The tips 12 and 13 may be formed of rubber or a suitable plastic material. The pole may be provided with a graduated scale 14 to permit a pair of stilt assemblies to be readily adjusted to the same height. A foot support bracket 15 is mounted on the pole and comprises a horizontal step 16 and a diagonal bracing member 17 integrally connected thereto. The horizontal step 16 terminates in a depending flange 18. A U-bolt 19 encompassing the pole 11 has its ends extending through apertures provided in the flange 18. Wing nuts 20 engage the-ends of the U-bolt 19, and when tightened, cause the step 16 to be clamped to the pole 11. Alternatively,

knurled nuts or hex nuts or any other quick-adjusting fastening means may be used, and it is intended'that the showing he considered as diagrammatically illustrating same. A pad 21, preferably of a resilient or non-skid material such as rubber, is aflixed to the step 16 by means of fingers or the like 22. The diagonal bracing member 17 terminates in a depending flange 25, similarly secured to the pole 11 by means of a U-bolt 26 and conventional fastening means such as wing nuts 27. Spacers 28 and 29, shown in 'FIGS. 2-4, preferably of steel or steel in combination with a resilient material such as rubber or a suitable plastic, are utilized between pole 11 and the flanges 18 and 25, respectively, in order to compensate for the curvature of the pole, to provide a more secure frictional engagement, and to prevent damage to the pole 11.

'FIGS. and 6 illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which two steps of different heights are provided on each stilt. As shown, the double step 35 is formed from an integral bar or strap and comprises horizontal steps 36 and 37, diagonal bracing members 38 and 39, and depending flange 40. The flange 40 is clamped to the pole 41 by a U-bolt 42, wing nuts 43 and spacer 44. Since only a single U-bolt is used for clamping the bracket 35 to the pole 41, apertures 45 and 46 are provided in the steps 36 and 37, respectively, of a diameter sufficient to permit the pole 41 to pass therethrough, thereby providing radial restraint. Additionally, to provide vertical support, tubular sleeves 47 and 48 are mounted over the pole 41, the lip 49 of the sleeve 48 being recessed to clear the end of the bracket 35. In utilizing the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower steps may be utilized first, after which the operator can progress to the upper step 36 merely by rotating the stilts 180 one at a time.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of the invention shown utilizing a foot support bracket 55 formed from an integral piece of sheet metal. The bracket is comprised of a horizontal step 56 having a pair of spaced apart depending webs 57 and 58 connected to the edges thereof. The rear edges of the webs 57 and 58 are turned inwardly to provide a pair of mounting flanges 59 and 60. The bracket 55 is mounted on a vertical pole 61 by means of U-bolts 62 and 63 having their ends inserted through apertures provided in the mounting flanges 59 and 60 and secured by means of wing nuts or the like 64 and 65, with a spacer 66 of a suitable material such as described above inserted between the flanges 59 and 60 and the pole 61.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate still another embodiment of I the invention. In this embodiment, a foot support bracket 70 is constructed similarly to that shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and comprises a horizontal step 71, depending webs 72 and 73, and mounting flanges 74 and 75. However, in this embodiment, instead of utilizing a U-bolt to secure the upper portion of the bracket 70, the step 71 is extended to provide a mounting ear or tab 76 having a round aperture 77 through which the pole 78 passes. The lower portion of the bracket 70 is aflixed to the pole in a manner similar to that of FIGS. 7 and 8 by means of a U-bolt 79, wing nuts 80 and preferably a spacer 81.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, still another embodiment is shown, wherein a foot support bracket 85 is formed of a single metal strap or bar. The foot support bracket comprises a horizontal step 86 and a diagonal bracing member 87 having a depending flange 88. An extension 89 of the step 86 is provided with an aperture 90 through which the vertical pole 91 passes. The lower end of the bracket is aflixed to the pole 91 by means of a U-bolt 92 whose ends pass through apertures provided in the depending flange 88 and are secured in place by means of wing nuts or the like 93. A spacer 94 is preferably inserted between the depending flange 88 and the pole '91. In order to provide axial support for the horizontal step 86, a tubular sleeve 95 is mounted over the pole 91, and is provided with a recessed lip 96 to clear the spacer 94 and flange 88.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate still another and preferred embodiment of the invention which, because of its simplicity and economy of construction is especially attractive. The structure comprises a foot support bracket 100 in the form of an integral bar or strap comprising a horizontal step 101 having an aperture 102 provided in the free end thereof through which a vertical pole 103 passes. The step 101 is connected at its upper end to'a diagonal bracing member 104 which in turn is connected at its other end to a vertical bracing member 105. The free end 106 of bracing member engages and supports the horizontal step 101. A U-bolt 107 encompassing the pole .103 has its ends passing through apertures provided in the vertical bracing member 105, and engaged by hexagonal or wing nuts 10-8 and stiffening spacer 109. In the structure shown, the primary clamping restraint is provided by the U-bolt 107 and engaging nuts 108 and spacer 109. Radial restraint for the step 101 is provided by the engagement of the aperture 102 with the pole 103. Vertical restraint or support for the step at the predetermined location on the pole 103 is provided by the engaging end 106 of the vertical support member 105. The embodiment shown has the advantage that it is very simple to manufacture, as well as adjust merely by loosening and tightening the nuts on a single U-bolt 107. Additionally, the clamp structure 100 can be readily and inexpensively made from a single piece of strap or bar metal.

Referring to FIGS. '15 and 16, still another embodiment is shown having a foot support bracket 112 formed of two pieces of strap or bar metal. The outer piece comprises a horizontal step 113 having an aperture 114 provided in the free end thereof receiving a pole 115. The other end of the step 113 is connected to a diagonal bracing member 116 having a supporting flange 117 at the other end thereof. The inner part of the bracket comprises a free end 118 connected to the flange 117 by a weld 119, a diagonal bracing member 120 and a horizontal supporting member 121 connected to the end thereof. The horizontal supporting member .121 is provided with an aperture 122 through which the pole 1 15 passes. The bracket 112 is mounted to the pole by means of a U-bolt 123 encompassing the pole 115 and having its ends passing through apertures provided in the flange 117 and being engaged by nuts 124. A spacer 125 preferably of a resilient material is mounted over the U-bolt 123 between the flange 117 and the pole 115. In the structure shown, primary clamping restraint is provided by the U-bolt 123 and nuts 124. Radial restraint for the step 113 is provided in engagement of the aperture 114 with the pole 115. Vertical restraint for the step 113 is accomplished by the secondary bracket comprising the diagonal member and horizontal supporting member 121. In this structure, adjustment of the bracket to a new elevation can be easily made by loosening and re-tightening the nuts of only a single U-bolt 123. Wing nuts, knurled nuts, orwrench engageable nuts may be used, with wing nuts and knurled nuts being most convenient for quick adjustment since separate wrench is not needed for making the adjustment. The bracket may also be modified by using a single strap or bar to form both structures. For example, the ends of the horizontal members 113 and 121 can be formed integrally connected together from a single bar. Alternatively, the lower ends of the two pieces can be integrally connected and bent, in which case the free end 118 would extend and be integrally connected to the end 117, the U-bolts then passing through both structures. It is intended that the showing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating this construction.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown and is generally designated by the same numerals. In the latter embodiment the foot support bracket 127 is modified by cutting a tab 128 from the diagonal bracing member 104 and bending the tab until the end engages the horizontal step 101 and affixed thereto by means of a weld 129. The tab 128 thus provides vertical support for the medial portion of the step 101.

FIGS. 19and 20 illustrate still another variation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. In this embodiment the foot support bracket 131 is altered by modifying the diagonal bracing member 132 to provide a radiused leg 133 and a diagonal leg 134. A radiused joint 135 between the two legs engages a medial portion of the horizontal leg 101 and provides vertical support therefor. The end of the horizontal leg or step 101 is supported by the resistance to bending of the leg 133.

The operation of the structures of all the embodiments shown and described is quite similar. With regard to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 'l-4, 7 and 8, two U-bolts are provided which encompass thepole and having ends which extend through apertures provided in the foot support bracket. Positive clamping action is accomplished by tightening the wing nuts. Readjustment of the height of the foot support bracket is accomplished by loosening all four wing nuts and sliding the bracket up or down as desired. The brackets are then very quickly and securely afiixed to the pole by once again tightening the wing nuts. Such adjustment can be very quickly done, and when the wing nuts are once again tightened, the brackets are very securely afiixed to the poles. Other fastening means such as knurled nuts, hexagonal nuts, or other nuts may be used.

With regard to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 9-20, only a single U-bolt is utilized for clamping the foot bracket to the pole. The U-bolt aflixes a portion of the bracket to the pole with respect to axial, radial and torsional movement. The portions of the horizontal steps which are provided with apertures through which the vertical pole passes limit the upper portion of the bracket with regard to radial movement, but not axial movement or torsional movement. Axial support for the horizontal step is therefore provided by the tubular sleeves which have ends engaging the lower U-bolt and whose upper ends engage the horizontal step, or by additional subsidiary structures as described. These structures provide adequate support downwardly for the entire bracket, and yet enable only a single U-bolt to be used which requires only a simple operation for adjustment. Rotational or torsional support for the foot bracket is also provided by the lower U-bolt. With regard to the embodiment shown in FIGS. and 6, two sleeves 47 and 48 are utilized, the lower sleeve 48 being supported at its lower lip by the U-bolt 42 and supporting the horizontal step 37 at its upper end. The sleeve 47 engages the step 37 at its lower end and supports the horizontal step 36 at its upper end. Thus, axial support, radial support, and torsional support are provided at the bottom of the bracket by the U-bolt assembly. Radial support for the steps are provided by their engagement with the pole 41, while torsional restraint is provided by the U-bolt 42 and the torsional rigidity of the double step member 35 generally.

Although in all the embodiments shown spacers have been utilized to separate the bracket from the pole, such spacers can be eliminated. If desired, the engaging edge of the bracket can be contoured to be complementary with the curvature of the pole. With regard to the embodiments utilizing a bracket formed of strap or plate metal, as for example, FIGS. l-6, 11 and 12, although it is generally preferred to use the stilt assembly in the position shown, the stilts may in fact be inverted so that the horizontal step is below the diagonal bracing memher. The embodiments of FIGS. 1-4 may be so utilized without any changes at all except inverting the pole, although if this type of use were desired permanently, the depending flange 18 could be reversed so that it would be below the step. With regard to the other embodiments,

such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, if the clamp were to be inverted, the arrangement would have to be altered so that the U-bolts were placed below the horizontal step and the depending flange 88 at the end of the diagonal support bent horizontally and provided with an aperture to receive the pole 91. The U-bolt could then be positioned below the step 86. This expedient could also be utilized with the other embodiments utilizing sleeves.

In the description above and in the drawings the bracket of the present invention has been described and illustrated in terms of a structure formed from a linear piece of strap or bar metal. However, it is, of course, to be understood that the basic structure may be formed by other methods with resulting slight modifications in structure. For example, many of the embodiments shown, and particularly that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 can be formed by extruding a large piece of metal having the desired cross-section. Individual clamps can then be formed by suitably cutting the extrusion transversely into a plurality of brackets. It is further necessary only to bore the appropriate holes. In such a structure, the various members of the bracket are fused together. For example, in the structure of FIGS. 13 and 14, the vertical supporting member would be fused with the horizontal supporting member 101, and would not have loose abutting ends as it does when the bracket is made from a linear piece of strap metal. Such variations in method and structure are, of course, intended to be included within the broad concept of the present invention, and further that the drawings be considered to diagrammatically illustrate such variations of structure.

The structure of the present invention provides an adjustable stilt which can be fabricated in any of many different embodiments. The structure provides a quick means of adjustment in elevation of the foot support bracket by merely loosening and then re-tightening a set of wing nuts, or when a more permanent or final position is desired, regular nuts tightened with a wrench (not shown) may be used. Moreover, when the nuts are tightened, the brackets are strongly secured to the vertical poles. In addition to these advantages, the structures of the present invention are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be readily fabricated from commonly available structural materials.

While but only a few forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms within the spirit and scope of the invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore the embodiments shown in the drawings are to be considered as merely diagrammatically setting forth the useful article of manufacture constituting the invention for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention herein described, shown and claimed. It is further to be noted that while directional terms have been used, same are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention since such use has been availed of to better describe the invention as used and illustrated in the drawings.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the means and the methods herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims or their equivalent be employed.

'1 therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An adjustable stilt comprising:

(a) a pole,

(b) a foot supporting bracket mounted on said pole comprising:

( 1) means defining a horizontal step comprising an integral metal bar having a horizontal member defining said horizontal step, a depending diagonal supporting member connected thereto, and an upturned and vertical supporting member at the end of said diagonal member having apertures provided therein for receiving the ends of a U-bolt,

(2) a U-bolt encompassing said pole, the ends thereof extending through the apertures provided in said vertical supporting member,

(3) nuts engaging the ends of said U-bolt and clamping said bracket to said pole, and

(4) the free end of said horizontal member having an aperture provided therein having said pole disposed therein providing radial restraint between said bracket and said pole, and the free end of said upturned supporting member engaging said horizontal member and providing vertical support therefor,

(c) whereby said bracket may be loosened from said pole by loosening said nuts, said bracket moved to a new position on said pole, and said bracket again clamped to said pole by re-tightening said nuts.

2. An adjustable stilt according to claim 1, wherein References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 404,806 6/1839 Temple Q. 272.70.2 494,758 4/1893 Kroder Z72 --20.Z UX 3,186,710 6/1965 St. PC1261 272.70.1 1,037,503 9/1912 Mann 272410.! 2,477,893 8/1949 Petersen "a- 272 -.1-70.1

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W R. T. STOU'FFER, Assistant Examiner 

